Should I jump ship and go work somewhere else for a while or stay here and hope for a transfer later?

[gabbydoll14]

Hi all! So I’ve been working at my dealership for 2 years, I work for a Chevrolet dealership in Texas, owned by Berkshire Hathaway. I came to work here because the GSM was my former GSM at the first dealership I ever worked at, which was Kia. I didn’t want to get back in the business at first but when I decide to make the move, I knew he was the only person I wanted to work for. He has always helped me and I’ve done well for myself since I started. Well my GSM had his own personal goal of getting his own store (basically become the GM) but usually in Berkshire Hathaway, it take a very long time to get your own store. I was thinking it would be 5-7 years before he go the opportunity however… after 3 years of being the GSM here, he won his own store and this past Thursday was his last day. I’m super happy for him because this was his dream and I planned on going with him.

Unfortunately, the GM of my dealership has to approve any transfers, and he said during our last meeting that he would not approve anyone to go with him. I was crushed to hear this because I would literally quit today to follow my boss to his new dealership and he’s the only reason I came to this dealership. I understand that my GM doesn’t want to lose people (cause he would lose a few salespeople and a manager or two) but I don’t think it’s right to be held hostage. The general rule with any BHA dealership is you have to get approval from your current GM to transfer OR you have to quit and wait 3-6 months to get hired at a new store.. in most cases.

At first I wanted to jump ship.. But I’ve been here a while now, I know how to make sales and money here, I’ve got bills to pay.. so I’m worried about leaving and going somewhere else and not making the same money or failing and then I’m in a bad spot. So I was thinking of staying and maybe in a few months, maybe 4 to 6 months from now, revisiting with my GM and requesting a transfer. Any advice guys? I’m lost

Updates

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My fear with staying here is that I’ll be here for a few more months and then when I ask my GM for a transfer, he’ll deny me. And then I’ll have to quit anyway and still wait 3 months or so to join my old boss.

[xColinx]

I like your thinking of sticking around for a while, let the other guy move on, then revisit the topic after a couple months. Like you said, I get the GM not wanting tons of peeps to head out the door following the other guy, so he's in a tough spot... but after 2-3 months, if he *still* was holding you hostage that'd be pretty messed up. Without knowing the guy, I'd hope he wouldn't do that, and so that's your best option to avoid a disruption to your paycheck and still landing where you want to, just with a bit of a delay.

One other thought: you could maybe even ask the GM about this scenario now, to get his thoughts, or wait to bring it up after a couple more months. Which do you think would play better?

[gabbydoll14]

Yeah it does seem like the best option in my opinion too but wasn’t sure..
The GM here has been good to me, but bringing it up right away wouldn’t be smart, he may just tell me to leave now lol. My old boss hasn’t even been gone a week yet and I think my GM was more so afraid of us requesting a transfer ASAP and losing at least 2-4 sales people, a sales manager and at least 1 finance manager since my old boss brought all of us in. The new dealership my boss is going to is brand new and it doesn’t open for another month. My old boss initially told me when he first got an interview to be the GM that I could come with him, but after his 1st interview my current GM made him promise not to take anyone with him and during our last meeting he said he’s not signing off on anyone going. So I’m not sure if he would still see it as him “stealing” people in a few months but I plan on making it clear to him that it’s my personal choice.

[xColinx]

I just saw your update to the question, which makes perfect sense. So I'll expand on what I already said before... ideally you could bring up the topic now (or sooner than 2-3 months from now) and do it in a discrete but direct way.

1. You understand the position he's in not wanting to lose existing workers.
2. You're willing to continue working there for a while, but your goal is to move (you can fill in the reasoning, whether you want to explain how the other GM has had a positive impact or some other reason/motive for why the switch makes sense for your goals)
3. Hopefully he's a typical male that will appreciate the logic of the situation if you present it that way. Doesn't mean he'll say "sure!" but you'd at least get the topic on the table, so you can start planning your next steps.

[xColinx]

Yeah again I understand the tricky position he's in right during the transition, but after a while doesn't seem like he can legitimately deny transfer requests without it being viewed as holding you hostage. Obviously you don't want to have to get into a big mess with HR or policies around that stuff, and hopefully he's reasonable with your individual situation, but it's hard to know.

But logically, it doesn't seem like he'd tell you to leave right away (if you bring up the topic) while ALSO wanting to block you from transferring. Unless he wanted to just be an a-hole about the whole thing. Does he seem like that type?

[gabbydoll14]

Well when I say he’d tell me to leave now, I mean he could possibly fire me. I’m not saying he’ll do that, I don’t think he will but I still think it’s too early to bring it up after he just said he’s not approving transfers. Although he’s friendly, it’s the car business so it can still be a dog eat dog world.

Also, my old boss is gonna be going through a lot of growing pains with this new dealership. It was built in an up and coming area that’s kind of far out. I’m assuming they’re gonna be pushing out cars and giving away a lot of gross in the beginning just to get their name out there since it’s brand new and they have no loyal customers. If he was taking over an established dealership such as the one I’m at now, then that would be a whole different ball game.

So going right away isn’t the move either way. But i don’t want to wait too long either so 4 to 6 months seems ideal. My lease at my apartment is up this coming spring so I was thinking of telling my GM around that time that I’m moving over that way and I’d like to request a transfer. And I know the other people here that want to go with him probably won’t because they’d have to move and they have things holding them here such as family, kids and romantic partners whereas I have none of that keeping me here, I can go wherever I want.

[xColinx]

Yeah that's what I meant also... if he told you to leave right away (fire you) he's losing you as an employee, and if you transfer he's losing you. Neither option benefits him so it'd be pretty lame for him to consider that first option over the 2nd

[xColinx]

And the apartment lease/moving/transfer scenario seems like a perfectly legit way to approach the topic with him. So yeah, probably best to wait it out for a while, and like you said that might be better timing to join the new dealership anyway.

[xColinx]

Completely off topic but are you religious at all? I have a question I'm curious to get your opinion about that has to do with religious dynamics in a relationship.

[gabbydoll14]

Yes I am a Christian! What’s your question?

[xColinx]

ok yeah that's perfect. I dated a girl earlier this year and to way oversimplify, she's a Christian and I'm more spiritual with a lean towards agnositic. If you don't mind can I message you directly to explain more? It's not vulgar or anything but has to do with the sexual dynamics and how to approach the topic in this type of situation.

[gabbydoll14]

Sure you can message me

[xColinx]

I tried messaging you and it won't let me. Maybe you have to message me or follow me? I'm still figuring out this site.